Shloka 19

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply

Devanagari script

तस्य धर्मात्मनः पत्नीं स्नुषां दशरथस्य च।कथं व्याहरतो मां ते न जिह्वा व्यवशीर्यते।।।।

Transliteration

tasya dharmātmanaḥ patnīṃ snuṣāṃ daśarathasya ca |kathaṃ vyāharato māṃ te na jihvā vyavaśīryate ||

Translation

Wie kommt es, dass deine Zunge nicht zerreißt und abfällt, wenn du zu mir sprichst—zur Gattin jenes Rechtschaffenen und zur Schwiegertochter Daśarathas?

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• धर्मात्मनः: of the righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmātman (प्रातिपदिक; dharma + ātman)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dharmasya ātmā yasya) used adjectivally

• पत्नीम्: wife
• पत्नीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• स्नुषाम्: daughter-in-law
• स्नुषाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snuṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Vedic/epic variant; expected snuṣām as acc.sg)

• दशरथस्य: of Daśaratha
• दशरथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prayojana/Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• व्याहरतः: while speaking
• व्याहरतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vy-ā-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; शतृ/शानच्-सम्भव वर्तमानकृदन्त (genitive absolute sense): ‘while (you) speak/utter’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘your’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• जिह्वा: tongue
• जिह्वा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• व्यवशीर्यते: splits/falls apart
• व्यवशीर्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ava-√śṝ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

"Why does not your tongue drop down while you speak such words against this consort of the righteous king (Rama) and daughter-in law of Dasaratha?

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma includes purity of speech: insulting or coercing a virtuous, married woman—especially one tied to a righteous royal lineage—is portrayed as speech-sin deserving immediate moral consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā intensifies her rebuke, invoking her dharmic status as Rāma’s wife and Daśaratha’s daughter-in-law to condemn Rāvaṇa’s words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya with dignity—Sītā speaks uncompromising truth and asserts rightful honor grounded in dharma and lineage.